Hampton Court pool chairman blasts Wycombe Holywell Mead snub (From Bucks Free Press)

Hampton Court pool chairman blasts Wycombe Holywell Mead snub

2:20pm Monday 24th August 2009 in Search By Oliver Evans

THE boss of an outdoor pool saved from closure by volunteers has blasted a council’s snubbing of activists who hoped to re-open Holywell Mead pool in High Wycombe.

Grahame Hadden, chairman of a trust which runs Hampton Pool in Middlesex, said Wycombe District Council’s concerns should have become “positive discussion”.

The council knocked back a business plan put together by volunteers and the trust which proposed opening the pool all-year-round and fitting a telescopic roof.

The council said health and safety requirements had not been met and the business model contained “fundamental flaws”.

This included too low staff numbers, a high dependence on volunteers and a “rather simple demand and usage model”.

Mr Hadden hailed the “creative and imaginative business plan” that was “based on proven swimming activities”.

He said: “Open-air pools have historically been poorly managed, summer only, seasonal facilities, and being season they have no full time staff to take a pride in the operation.

“At Hampton we actively manage our facilities, listen to our clients to create new activities, new facilities and business opportunities.”

The pool, in Middlesex, was re-opened in 1985 by a not for profit charity set up by residents, which operates to this day.

Mr Hadden added: “I have seen no ‘lack of apparent consideration of health and safety requirements’ in the business plan.

“I would regard the document to be a working document and if the council did have concerns this would be an area for positive discussion.”

Now the trust has invited Conservative council leader Lesley Clarke to look at how the Hampton pool is run. Cllr Clarke was unavailable for comment.

The two Liberal Democrat councillors which serve Ryemead have hit out at the council’s decision.

Cllr Trevor Snaith said he was “disappointed and dismayed”.

He said: “WDC as full time professionals should now be offering to work with the steering group on any perceived shortfalls with the aim of passing management of the pool to the steering group as soon as possible.”

And Cllr Ray Farmer said he was “shocked and disgusted” and WDC should make its plans clear and stop “wasting this group’s time and effort”.

The council has said it has no plans on the table for the site. It looks set to be earmarked for “community or leisure use”, whoever owns it.